Series 4 of Moviedrome opened with director Don Siegel’s 1971 Southern Gothic Civil War drama The Beguiled. I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction of the aforementioned film. Readers can read his transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was May 19, 1991 (read here). The Beguiled was the third collaboration between director Don Siegel and his lead actor Clint Eastwood – the first two were 1968’s Coogan’s Bluff and 1970’s Two Mules for Sister Sara. Dirty Harry followed in December of 71 and 8 years later in 1979, their partnership concluded with Escape from Alcatraz. Unlike the roles he played in Siegel’s previous and future films, Clint Eastwood portrays his leading anti-hero as a vulnerable human being – even when he displays his macho persona, it comes off as terrifying as opposed to cool. I agree with everything Cox says about this film – especially when he implies that it is a blend of (in his words) Jacobean tragedy and Ambrose Bierce (read here). In case you readers missed it the first time, click here to read the list of my favorite Don Siegel films.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to The Beguiled
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
This film is SO much better than Sofia Coppola’s remake, and it still stands up in 2020.
Best wishes, Pete.
Season 4 means I’m now revisiting my Moviedrome guide, number 2. I think this is one of Cox’s more interesting introductions. Lots of good background, and I like his description of Joe Kidd as a “wretched rip-off of The Big Silence.” I’d never heard of Ambrose Bierce before this, I’m intrigued, so I might try and get hold of Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge.
Totally agree, Pete. I finally got around to watching the remake. I probably liked it more than you did, but I think it’s inferior to the original.
We’ve talked about The Beguiled and Don Siegel before. I’m fans of both the director and the film.
“This film is SO much better than Sofia Coppola’s remake, and it still stands up in 2020.
Best wishes, Pete.”
Undoubtedly, Siegel’s version is still the superior one 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
That is great Paul 🙂 You can’t go wrong with any of Bierce’s stories, so start out with any one of them 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Same here Pam 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Another Don Siegel classic!
It sure is John 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂